A heady performance

July 15 2008

Shepparton News

David Turkovic nodded Tatura into the North Eastern Soccer League top four on Sunday as his two headed goals gave the Ibises a 3-1 win against Shepparton United.

Tatura jumped above United into fourth place with the win, level with third-placed Shepparton South on 25 points and three ahead of fifth-placed United on 22.

Playing as a target-man striker, Turkovic commanded the game by scoring twice and winning a penalty which Steve Bovalino converted.

Tatura took a 1-0 lead into half-time with a Turkovic header before the game exploded after the break with goals, cards and end-to-end incidents.

Turkovic won a penalty midway through the second half as he was pushed in the back leaping for a corner, Bovalino making the score 2-0 as he hit his spot-kick low down the middle.

United then had a penalty shot of its own which was turned down, from the defensive clearance Tatura ran the length of the field to score and open a 3-0 lead.

Mohammed Saleh, top-scorer in division two with 14 goals this season, picked out Turkovic with a cross which the unmarked striker nodded in.

Shepparton United's protests at the end of the passage of play backfired as centre back Craig Smith was sent off for a second bookable offence.

But 10-man United would not lie down, fighting back with a goal from close range to Chris Ogboke after he connected with a Roven Shaholli cross.

James Kalafatis hit the post for United within a minute of the restart, but the game finished 3-1 after Turkovic was denied his hat-trick by the linesman and United substitute Mohammad Alnajeffee also had a goal disallowed for offside.

Turkovic credited his teammates after the match for lifting in the absence of Spiro Vourgaslis with injury and Adrian Corbo with suspension.

``My goals are coming as the result of good team play and today I was given great service,'' Turkovic said.